Chances are if you live in East Tennessee, you’ve made a family trip to Wilderness at the Smokies or its sister property Soaky Mountain Waterpark. These destinations are popular getaways for good reason. Whether you have littles or bigs, there is fun for all (adults included). Now there is a new way for your family to “escape” at Wilderness at the Smokies. The resort has just opened “Beyond the Door Room Escapes.” Knoxville Moms put the new escape room game to the test with some tough judges ranging in age from eight to 12.
If you’re not familiar with escape rooms, they’re an interactive game where players are immersed in a themed room. Your team must work together to find hidden clues, crack codes and solve puzzles. Typically, you only have 30 to 60 minutes to complete your task, which adds to the fun. Players at “Beyond the Door Room Escapes” choose between three different scenarios. “Guest Who” is a 30-minute game similar to the boardgame Clue. It’s a perfect foray into escape rooms for the younger set or those who are experiencing an escape room for the first time.
Next is the “Gambler’s Gambit.” You’ll take a step back in time to a speakeasy. That’s where a detective has gone rogue running a counterfeit money operation. Your goal is to infiltrate the operation and destroy the money-making operation in just 60 minutes. Finally, there is “Sorcerer’s Secret.” Harry Potter lovers will feel right at home with this game. Your team will have 60 minutes to outsmart an ancient wizard, master elemental spells, uncover hidden crystals, and attempt to pull a legendary sword from stone. Our Knoxville Moms crew took a crack at the “Sorcerer’s Secret” and escaped to tell!
The moment we walked through the door to the escape room excitement was running high. The attention to detail really made it feel like you were in a wizard’s tower. It wasn’t just the staging of the room but the light and sounds too. We don’t want to give away too much and spoil the fun, but the kids loved the wands. They actually worked! The kids used all their senses—including their sense of smell–to uncover clues. They did a pretty good job working together and taking turns (although there were a few moments—they’re kids after all)! It didn’t take long to get them back on track because you win or lose together. As a parent, I thought the lesson about teamwork is the best part of the “Beyond the Doors Room Escapes!” Our crew managed to collect the crystals and pull the sword from the stone with 17-minutes and 30-seconds left. It was the fastest time ever logged at the “Sorcerer’s Stone,” which gives the kids some serious bragging rights (at least for now).
Perhaps your family could be the ones to dethrone us! If you want to give “Beyond the Doors Room Escapes” at Wilderness at the Smokies a try, here are a few things to keep in mind. Reservations are helpful and easy to do here. Children three years and younger do not need to purchase a ticket. However, it’s recommended that all participants be at least seven years of age for the best experience.
“Beyond the Doors Room Escapes” is located at Stone Hill Lodge, which is connected to the Sevierville Convention Center and across the street from the main Wilderness at the Smokies building. If you’re staying at Wilderness, you can easily hop the free resort shuttle to reach Stone Hill and the escape room. By the way, the newly renovated Stone Hill Lodge is a great place to stay too. It’s low-key but you still have access to all the fun at the Wilderness resort. (It’s included in your stay at Stone Hill.) During our stay, we spotted a sign at the Stone Hill Lodge waterpark that said yet another new attraction is on the way! It seems Wilderness at the Smokies always has some new fun up its sleeve.
In the meantime, you can enjoy “Beyond the Doors Room Escapes” right now. Perhaps we’ll see you there. Our Knoxville Moms kid crew can’t wait to go back!
